Desert Discoveries Part 3: Desert Pricklies

We take a scenic boat ride on Saguaro Lake (strange to see so much water – and bald eagles! – in this dry country), enjoy a night of eclectic music at the Arizona Opry (Elvis was there), visit Old Tucson movie studios (gosh, those cowboys are cute), and hike through birdwatching mecca Madera Canyon (spotted wild turkeys, lots of hummingbirds; missed the coveted Elegant Trogon).

We also participate in some less-touristy activities, like running around the neighborhood golf course at dusk looking for javelina and bobcat, only to find about 1,000 bunnies (and one pack rat) instead. Hello? Bobcats? You’re totally missing out here.

We manage to squeeze in some quality time with my folks, too.

Hummingbirds adore the red flowers of the ocotillo.

But the star attraction is the Sonoran desert, a rugged, prickly, sun-struck place completely unlike home.

I know people raise livestock here--we see horses and scrappy cattle--but I can’t imagine my own menagerie living in this desolate country full of venomous snakes, threats of heat stroke, and spine-armored plants.

Here’s just a sampling of the desert pricklies we bumped into (not literally, thank goodness!):

Arizona Barrel Cactus: These stout cacti sport hooked spines and tend to lean to the southwest. Sometimes they lean so far they fall right over.

Disclaimer: The posts and threads recorded in our messageboards do not reflect the opinions of nor are endorsed by I-5 Publishing, LLC nor any of its employees. We are not responsible for the content of these posts and threads. Site best viewed with IE 5+

*Content generated by our loyal visitors, which includes comments and club postings, is free of constraints from our editors' red pens, and therefore not governed by I-5 Publishing, LLC's Gold Standard Quality Content, but instead allowed to follow the free form expression necessary for quick, inspired and spontaneous communication.